With reports that President Biden is considering whether to remain in the race, increased attention has been directed towards Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the most likely candidate to replace him at the top of the ticket.

President Biden has been the most consequential president in U.S. history regarding marijuana law reform. For example, he pardoned thousands of federal marijuana offenders, initiated the review that led to the DEA recommending marijuana be rescheduled, and in 2022 he became the first president to sign a standalone marijuana bill into law with the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act. However, Biden has also refused to support the legalization of marijuana, putting him at odds with the majority of his own party.

Vice President Kamala Harris has been a strong supporter of Biden’s moves to reschedule marijuana and pardon offenders. Following the DEA’s announcement, she said, “Currently, marijuana is classified on the same level as heroin and more dangerous than fentanyl. We are finally changing that. I want to thank all of the advocates and everyone out there for helping to make this possible.”

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Maryland’s legal marijuana market has achieved a significant milestone, surpassing half a billion dollars in sales within the first half of the year.

According to the Maryland Cannabis Administration, $94 million worth of legal marijuana and marijuana products were sold in June, bringing the year-to-date total to $556.2 million.

In June, recreational marijuana consumers contributed approximately $65 million to the total sales, while medical marijuana patients accounted for the remaining $29 million. This follows May’s record-breaking sales, where $96.8 million was generated.
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In June, Illinois saw $166 million in legal marijuana and marijuana products sold, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

This figure represents a modest decrease compared to May’s sales of $170.6 million, a difference of $2.6 million between the two months.

Breaking down the numbers, June’s sales included $144 million in recreational marijuana and $24 million in medical marijuana. Despite the month-over-month decrease, June 2024 sales surpassed those of June 2023 by about $12 million, indicating a year-over-year growth.
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In California, licensed marijuana sales have exceeded $2 billion for the first half of 2024, driven by strong sales figures in June.

The latest data reveals that there was $339 million worth of marijuana and related products sold legally in June, a slight decrease from the $350 million sold in May. This brings the total sales for the year to approximately $2.05 billion.

In June, the average price per gram for dried marijuana flower was $10, while marijuana concentrates averaged $18 per gram.
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Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana (NMM) have submitted well more than enough signatures to put their medical marijuana legalization initiative to a vote this November.

Today, NMM submitted over 110,000 signatures for both of their initiatives: one to legalize medical marijuana and one to protect physicians who recommend it. This exceeds the required 87,000 signatures needed for the proposals to be voted on in November.

The group has also collected the required signatures across at least 38 of the state’s 93 counties for both initiatives, a legal requirement for making the November ballot.
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Sales of THC-infused beverages in Connecticut are now restricted to state-licensed liquor stores and cannabis retailers.

The new law is due to the enactment of House Bill 5150, which was signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont in May. It officially to effect on July 1, prohibiting the sale of intoxicating hemp products at gas stations and convenience stores.

The state’s Department of Consumer Protection outlined the law’s requirements in a news release, which include:
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Legal marijuana sales surpassed $270 million in June in Michigan, with all-time sales now above $10 billion.

According to the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency, recreational marijuana sales in June amounted to $275.2 million, slightly below May’s $278 million. Medical marijuana sales in June reached $1.7 million, bringing the total sales for the month to around $277 million.

Since the legalization of recreational marijuana in December 2019, total sales have now reached $8.55 billion. Medical marijuana sales have added another $1.62 billion, making the combined total $10.17 billion. These robust sales have generated significant tax revenues, with recreational marijuana alone contributing over $1.4 billion.
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The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ (EBCI) marijuana megastore will open for recreational marijuana sales tomorrow, July 4.

Located in a former bingo hall that cost over $50 million to refurbish, the Great Smoky Cannabis Company — which has been open for medical marijuana sales since April — will begin recreational marijuana sales on July 4. Initially, these sales will be exclusive to tribal members. However, a spokesperson for the outlet tells us that sales will begin for everyone 21 and older, regardless of tribal membership, next month.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Tribal Council voted last month to legalize recreational marijuana. The vote followed a September ordinance approved by tribal members, requesting the council to develop legislation to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana.
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